WORCESTERSHIRE Rapids travel to Edgbaston to tackle local rivals Birmingham Bears on Friday to kick off a Bank Holiday bonanza of Vitality Blast cricket which sees north group leaders Lancashire visit New Road on Sunday.
Second-placed Rapids will look to seal a place in the knockout phase of the tournament as they bid to return to Edgbaston on September 21 for Finals Day.
The Rapids head into the final four games of the group stage of the 2019 tournament on the back of a humiliating ten-wicket defeat to Northamptonshire in the Specsavers County Championship.
Riki Wessels made an impressive unbeaten 84 but Worcestershire went down midway through the clash at Wantage Road.
Wessels batted with plenty of power and aggression in striking one six and 11 fours in his 91-ball knock. He came to the wicket at 95-5 and helped the county avoid the innings defeat and total 223 all out.
It left Northamptonshire needing a modest 34 target which they achieved without loss in the fifth over.
The reverse ends any realistic hopes of promotion for Joe Leach’s men.